Chain press



Sept. 23, 1941.

R. F. KREITER CHAIN PRESS Filed June l5, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l "unl- Til[NVE/V701? TL/.emma BY M #www N A TTOJNE Y E N Q N mul/A vvv 4 Sept 23,1941-- R. F. KREITER 2,256,718

CHAIN PRESS Filed June l5, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTOR BY Plc/Meo /F`Kef/721e ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 23, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICECHAIN PRESS Richard F. Kreiter, Houston, Tex.

Application June 15, 1939, Serial No. 279,267

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a chain press.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine for removing the pinsconnecting the links of a sprocket chain as well as for replacing saidpins.

The links of sprocket chains as commonly manufactured are connected bypins, the connecting pins having a pressed t in some of the links and aloose fit through the other links to give the required flexibility tothe chain and in use it is sometimes necessary tol remove theseconnecting pins for making repairs such as substituting new links forbroken ones or for lengthening or shortening the chain. The inventionherein described has been specially designed for removing and replacingthe chain pins when it becomes necessary to substitute new links for oldones or to lengthen or shorten the chain.

It is another object of the invention to provide a portable machine thatwill be instantly available when required.

It is another object of the invention to provide' a chain press of thecharacter described that may be manually operated and which is soconstructed that the manual power applied to the operating handle willbe multiplied when applied to the actual work of forcing the chain pinsout of or into the link bearings.

While the press has been primarily designed for removing and replacingsprocket chain pins this speciication and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a plan view of the press.

Figure 2 shows a side elevation, partly in section.

Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows a fragmentary, plan View of the bed showing the sprocketplate as being applied thereto.

Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 shows an enlarged, fragmentary, longitudinal sectional viewtaken on the line 6-6 of Figure 1 showing the parts in position to beginthe operation.

Figure 7 shows a view similar to Figure 6, but showing the parts at theend of a working cycle.

Figure 8 shows an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken on the line 8-,8of Figure 1 showing 55 the parts in an intermediate position during thecompletion of a stroke, and

Figure 9 shows a similar View showing the parts at the end of a workingstroke.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals ofreference designate the same parts in each of the figures, the numeral Idesignates the bed of the press which, at one end is reduced in widthforming the eX- tension Ia which is formed with a transverse bore 2 intowhich there is pressed a tubular bushing 3 to receive the transverse rod4 whose ends project each way beyond the bed. Rotatablymounted on theprojecting ends of the rod 4 are the eccentric spindles 5, 5 which fitsnugly within the front bearings 6, 6 of the connecting rods l, 'I. Theeccentric spindles, or cams, 5 are formed integrally with the centralhood 8 forming a handle block and having the sockets 9, 9 to receive thehandles Ill. The bearings 6 may be held against detachment from the camshaped spindles by means of suitable cotter keys I I, I I.

It is obvious that as the handles Ill are oscillated the connecting rods'I will be correspondingly oscillated.

At its forward end the topY of the bed I4 is countersunk thus formingthe opposing shoulders I2, I2 curved on a common circle and providedwith the arcuate grooves I3, I3. A sprocket plate I4 is provided. Theopposing ends of this sprocket plate have the arcuate tongues I5, I5. Inapplication the sprocket plate is seated in the countersunk portion ofthe bedtransversely of said bed, as shown in Figure 1 and then given aquarter turn so that the tongues I5 will seat in the grooves I3 as shownin Figure 2 in which position the sprocket plate may be maintained by asuitable pin fitted through the openings I6, II, which will align whenthe sprocket plate is properly positioned on thebed as shown in Figure2. The sprocket plate I4 has the required number of rows of sprockets asI8 which are received by the links of the sprocket chain as I9, as shownin Figure 3, when the chain is positioned on the press.

The sprocket plate, as is obvious, can readily be removed and anothersubstituted for it having the required number of sprockets to receivethe particular size of type of chain to be operated on. The opposite, orrear, end of the bed, is also reduced in width forming the rearextension Ib whose upper margin has a wide groove 20. As will be notedfrom an inspection of Figure 2 the upper surface of the rear extensionIb is elevated above the upper surface of the forward portion of theward face against which the plunger block 24 abuts. Said block has theforwardly extending push pins, or plungers, 25, 25.V These plungers areofY 'a diameter less than the diameter of the chain pins to be operatedon. These chain pins will vary in diameter in accordance with the typeof sprocket chain and consequently the plunger block 24 and its pins 25must be changed to pro- ,Y

Y vide push pins of the Yrequired diameter; hence the plunger block 24is madev separate -from the head 23. V i y A ratchet block 2S is ttedover the rack bar 2| and embraces the rearward extension Iband is Ymovable therealong.` This ratchet block has, in

its "under `face, ratchet teeth 21 pitched the reverse of the pitch ofthe teeth "22 and lengage-Y :able withsaid last mentioned teeth. TheYratchet centric spindles 5 will be upwardly as shown in` Figure 3, withthe handles Il) in upright position as also shown in Figure 3. In thisposition it will usually require too much power to start the chain pinsas in some cases it requires a very high pressure to start the pins tomove. Therefore, in starting the work the hand lever 32 should be movedrearwardly to its rear position as shown in Figure 6. This, as isobvious, will turn the ec-A centric sleeves 29 until their high sidesare forwardly ythus ,permitting a .slight forward .movement of theconnecting rods 1, 1 so` that the handles I0 can be swung forwardly thusgivingV a better leverage as indicated inFigure 8.Y It is to 'be notedthat the chain should be adjusted to the exact right height so that thepush pins, or

block has the end Vtrunnions Vv28, 28 fand .littefdY Yover thesetrunnions are' the eccentric sleeves, or cams, 29, 29. Y Y

VFastened to the louter ends of the 'sleeves 29,229 are Ythe `upstandingarms 30, 3e which are .connected to move in-unison by the cross-rod 3|and one of said-arms 30 is extended upwardly forming a hand lever 32.Astrongl pull`spring^33 is connected at its rear end to'one'of the armsSil and at its V'forward end is attached toa rod `1 and is undersumcient tension to normally tend to pull the arms 3Q forwardly. Therear ends of the connecting Yrods .1 are Yformed with the circularbearings 34, 34 which Aclosely surround lthe 'ec-l.Y

centric sleeves 29.

Mounted in a suitable transverse bearing in the rear extension |`b thereis -a transverse cam 4shaft 35 and fixed to and upstanding from thisshaft there is an operating handle 36.V Fixed on this shaft and alignedunderneath the respective connecting rods 1 are'the cams 31 on which theVconnecting `rods rest. Upon manipulation of the A' handlefforwardlythecams 31 will-be turned to` plunger, 25 will exactly alignwith the pins connecting the chain links. this adjustment, a series ofset screws as 4| are provided in the sprocket plate 5 between thesprocket teeth. rThese set screws Aill v.may be Ladjusted to the exactrequired height .and the -ch-ain when positioned Yin vplace will them. Yf

It is preferable to employ a guide as 42 Afor guiding the push pins, or.plungers '25. This `guide is shaped `substantially .like 'a chain linkand has bearings to receive .the push pins .25 and which align with the`chainffpins when said -guide 42 is located on the sprocket plate vas:clearly shownin Figure 1. The 'guide v12, -when positioned iin y place,as Yshown inrFigur-e l, willlabu-t the Yopposing lift therear ends ofthe connecting rods 1 and to Y thus elevate the ratchet block 26'soIthat its teeth willfclear the teeth 22. Beh-indthe ratchet block Yandsecured to oppositey sides ofthe rear extension Ib', are the upstandingstandards 38, 38 whose upper ends-have aligned bearing-s to receive` theends of the transverse rod -39 and xed Yon this rodthere is -a dog 40which may be'engaged with the teeth "22, vas shown in Figures 2 Vand 3,to .prevent-the rearward movement of the rack bar 2l.- Upon elevation ofthe ratchet block 26,

side link of the chai-n. U-pon manipulation ofithe .handles lil vin adownward direction the 'eccentric spindles, or sleeves, E5 will beturned in a direction indicated by the Larrows in Figures and 13 thusexerting a pull, through the connecting rod 1 on lthe ratchet block-26.which pull will betra'nsmittedV to the rack bar `2| and through it tothe push pins, or plungers, 25 and these will operate against Ythe chainpins as lea forcing the same outwardly as is indicated -i-n Figure l.The handles 1| 0 may then be swung upwardly rota-ting the eccentricspindles, or cams, 5in a direction the reverse of that indicated'by thearrows in Figures 2 and 8. The tension 'on the -connecting Arods 1 willthus be 'relieved and said connecting the arrow in Figure 6,;th-edistance of said rotation as hereinabove explained, and Vuponydisengfage-` ment of the dog 4i! fromthe teeth 22'the rack bar 2|, theanchor"v block 24 :and the push pins,v or plu-ngers, '25 may be-retracted or moved the required distance rearwardly.

'I-n operation the chain 'to be operated on'may belo'cated .on thesprocket plate I5 with the sprockets I8 projected upwardly between thelinks s' of the ichainas shown 2in Figure .3 and the handle lmofvedrearwardly sok that the ratchet vblock .26 will -be inits lower positionwith its teeth en- .gaged with the teeth 22 4and the dog `4U swung into`its forward position, as shown in Figure 2, to engage ithe teeth 22.With the hand lever 32 kinxits forward position, as shown in Figure Y2,

and valso as--shown Vin Figure 7, the high sides of ,the eccentricsleeves '29 will beY Vrearwardly'as shown Yin Figure 7 and the 'highsides of thereobeing determined by thedistance the handlesVV f have'been elevated. Thereupon the handles 'l0 mayagain be moved downwardly,as before, again moving the rack bar 2 l' and plungers 25 forwardly.When the pins iSd are-oncegunseated, pr started, and do not require somuchpower'to move them, the range of handle stroke may be increasedsince less power is required and a greater leverage`ac cordingly ispermitted. 9

The operation is continuedV until thearm-s 30 approach the limit'go'ftheir forward movement and the handles lil are then swung upwardly'fto.

the limit of their forward movement asfshown in Figure V2-thuspermitting a ina'l forward move; ment ofthe arms 30 which will causetheec- Vcentric sleeves `2Q to move correspondingly 4.into position asshownin Figure f7 with their high sides rearwardly. The rearwardmovement of the connecting rods 1, 1 will cause a rearward movement ofthe ratchet block I2t but thedog'd -willihold the rack bar `2| againstrearward'movemen-t thus holding the pushfpins', .or plungers,^l25against the opposing ends -o'f the chain lpins" 19d;

In order to accomplish 4be .supported -on This rearward movement of theratchet block 26 will cause its teeth to engage behind the nextsucceeding corresponding teeth of the rack bar 2 l, or in other words,will cause said ratchet block to take a new hold on the rack bar. Theoperation is then repeated as before gradually moving the rack bar 2lforwardly and gradually forcing the chain pins lea outwardly. Attentionis directed to the fact that upon oscillation of the handles I up anddown as above explained, the rack bar 2|, upon each oscillation willmove forwardly only a portion of the distance between the teeth 22, thedistance of each partial forward movement depending on the range 0foscillation of the handles lil and this range may be varied depending onthe amount of power required to be applied. If the pins 19a are rmlyseated and require great power to be moved-the range of oscillation ofthe handles lll will be less than after the pins have been started andrequire less power to accomplish their movement.

It is advisable in starting or unseating any chain pins la that shortpush pins 25 be first used to avoid danger of bending them as wouldlikely happen ii long push pins were used where a maximum power isrequired. When it becomes necessary to assemble the chain, that is, toforce the chain links in place the guide 42 is placed over a sprocket I8behind, and abutting, a side link of the chain and push pins are fittedloosely through the aligned bearings of all the links so as to maintainthem in alignment and the chain pins are then forced, by the head 23,into place, by manipulation of the handles I0 in the manner hereinabovedescribed, said chain pins gradually displacing the aligning push pinspreviously inserted through the link bearings.

The drawings and description are illustrative merely, while the broadprinciple of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising a support, a workholder associated therewith, power delivery means including anoscillatable cam, a connecting rod arranged to be reciprocated by thecam, a plunger adapted to operate against the work on the holder, meansfor actuating the plunger against the work, means connecting said rod tothe actuating means and including a cam and means for actuating saidlast mentioned cam to permit movement of said rod, relative to saidplunger-actuating means, in one direction but to prevent such relativemovement in the other direction.

2. Apparatus of the character described comprising a support, a workholder associated therewith, ,power delivery means including anoscillatable cam, a rod having connection with, and adapted to bereciprocated by, the cam, a plunger arranged to be operated against thework on the holder, meansfor actuating the plunger against the work,means engageable with said actuating means and effective to advance thelatter, and the plunger, upon movement of said advancing means in onedirection, means connecting said rod to the advancing means andincluding a cam, means constantly tending to actuate Said last mentionedcam to permit movement of the rod relative to the advancing means in onedirection and to prevent such relative movement in the other direction,whereby to cause successive effective movements of the advancing meansupon reciprocation of the rod.

3. Apparatus of the character described comprising a support, a workholder associated therewith, power delivery means including areciprocable connecting rod, a plunger adapted to'operate against thework on the holder, means for actuating the plunger against the work,means connecting said rod to the actuating means and including a cam andmeans for actuating the cam to permit movement of said rod, relative tothe plunger-actuating means in one direction but to prevent suchrelative movement in the other direction.

4. Apparatus of the character described cornprising a support, a workholder associated therewith, power delivery means including areciprocable connecting rod, a plunger arranged to be operated againstthe work on the holder, means for actuating the plunger against thework, means engageable with said actuating means and effective toadvance the latter and the plunger, upon movement of said advancingmeans in one direction, means connecting said rod to the advancing meansand including a cam, means constantly tending to actuate said cam topermit movement of the rod relative to the advancing means in onedirection and to prevent such relative movement in the other directionwhereby to cause successive effective movements of the advancing meansupon reciprocation of the rod.

5. A chain press comprising a bed, a Work holder therein shaped toreceive an anchor, a sprocket chain, a reciprocable handle, a plungeradapted to operate against a chain pin to move the same into or out ofthe chain link bearings, cams arranged to be oscillated by the handleconnecting rods having bearings on said cams whereby oscillation of thecams will reciprocate the rods, a rack bar operable against the plungerand having ratchet teeth, a ratchet block having teeth arranged toco-act with the teeth of said bar, cams oscillatable on the ratchetblock, said rods having bearings on the ratchet block cams, meansconstantly tending to actuate said last mentioned cams to permitmovement of the rods relative to the ratchet block in one direction andto prevent such relative movement in the other direction whereby tocause successive effective movements of the ratchet block and rack barupon reciprocation of said rods.

6. Apparatus of the character described comprising a bed, a work holderthereon, a reciprocable power delivery means, a plunger adapted tooperate against the Work on the holder, means connecting the powerdelivery means to the` plunger and including a member having a Wedgelikeaction and means for actuating said member to permit movement of thepower delivery means relative to the plunger in one direction but toprevent such relative movement in another direction.

7. Apparatus of the character described comprising a bed, a work holderthereon, reciprocable power delivery means, a plunger adapted to operateagainst the work on the holder, means connecting the .power deliverymeans to the plunger and including a member having a wedge-like actionwhereby movement of the power delivery means relative to the plunger ispermitted in one direction only.

8. In a chain press having a support, a work holder thereon,` a slidablerack bar movable towards said work holder, a ratchet block having meansarranged to co-act with the rack bar, a connecting rod, a camoscillatable on the ratchet and connecting said rod to the block, meansfor reciprocating said rod, means tending to actuate the cams to permitmovement of the rod relai-revemtsuch relativef movement in the other'di- Vtivetothe ratchet-,block 'in one direction karid. to

plate havin-g chainholding-s-procket teeth thereon, said plate havingarcuate'ends corresponding to the shape of said recess, a tongue on theplate V43o-acting with the groove,V means for aligning sai 5 plateon'the bed.

RICHARD F. KREITER.

